Rules & Start Line Procedures

All rules set forth for the Buffalo Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay & 5k have been established in order to protect the safety of our participants and keep us in good standing with our governing body, the USATF. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated in helping everyone to enjoy race day.

• Our course design prohibits us from allowing wheel chair, Push Rims and hand cycles. This is for the safety of all participants. Note: The 5k as of 2020 includes a Push Rim division.
• No wheeled vehicles are allowed on the course at any time. All bikes, strollers, motorcycles, cars, etc. will be immediately removed by race personnel.
• No dogs are allowed on the course at any time.
• No roller blades or roller skates are allowed on the course at any time.
• Adaptive strollers (running strollers) are allowed with the race directors permission.
• There is a 6 hour time limit for the full and 3 hour time limit for the half (i.e. 13:44 per mile pace). If you are passed by the SAG vehicle you will be asked to move to the side walk for safety. Aid stations will start to close down as they are passed by the SAG vehicle. Half participants will receive a time and medal as long as they reach the finish the line in less then 6 hours.
• Only registered participants may be on the course during the 6 hour event. Spectators are asked to remain on the sidewalks.
• Headphones ARE now permitted on the course due to the revised legislation passed by the USATF, the governing body.
• Participants must stay on the official course at all times. It is the responsibility of each participant to know the course and follow the course volunteers. Participants who leave the course will automatically be disqualified. Please see the course map to learn the course before race day.
• Yes. Marathon athletes must be at least 18 years of age. Half-Marathon athletes must be at least 16 years of age.
• BEMA has medical staff stationed throughout the course. The Medical staff has the authority to remove any participant if they believe their health is at risk.
• Only participants wearing the provided MyLaps BibTag’s will be timed and included in the final race results.
• Only registered participants may cross the finish line. We reserve the right to disqualify anyone crossing the finish line with anyone that is not a registered participant.

Start Line Procedures

• The race will start at 6:30am sharp so please respect the start line procedures and allow yourself enough time to get into the chute.
• You WILL not be allowed to enter the chute from the front (i.e. Starting Mats). You must enter from the rear or at one of the side entries near the pace flags.
• The starting line will be barricaded until right before the start of the race so please do not think you will sneak in at the last second.
• You must be in the street and pass over the timing mats under the arch at which point your time will start. Boston Qualifying times accept chip times so don’t fret if you’re not upfront.
• There will be banners estimating pace and finish times to help you line up in the chute. At each banner will be an entry through the barricades. This will allow you to move up the sidewalk to the proper starting area. Please help your fellow runners by moving quickly on the sidewalk and not loitering as well as moving into the center of the street to make room for those behind you.
• You will not be allowed to carry any bags into the start chute.
• Please listen to the directions of all our volunteers and police. They are there early to help insure everyone has a great and safe race.

IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLIND / VI CATEGORY YOU NEED TO FALL WITHIN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CLASSES. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION.